Post-secondary students in the Okanagan are among the most food insecure in the country, according to a new study by the University of British Columbia (UBC).
More than 40 per cent of students attending UBC含羞草研究社檚 Okanagan campus either don含羞草研究社檛 have enough money to feed themselves properly or are worried they will soon run out of funding.
This is according to a new study completed by the school含羞草研究社檚 Campus Health VOICE Research Project team, led by Casey Hamilton. Internally, UBC is deep-diving through a newly-launched Food Security Initiative, aiming to more clearly understand food security through consultation with students.
Hamilton and her students regularly tackle varying health issues that impact the well-being of students through community-based research.
One of the biggest speed-bumps affecting students today is food insecurity.
含羞草研究社淛ust over 40 per cent of students (pre-covid) experience what含羞草研究社檚 called household food insecurity, and that is consistent with other universities and college含羞草研究社檚 across Canada,含羞草研究社� said Hamilton.
This is leagues higher than the Canadian household food insecurity average, which sits at around 8.4 per cent (2011-2012), according to the Government of Canada.
含羞草研究社淚 wasn含羞草研究社檛 shocked, but I was sad含羞草研究社 fire is lit under me to help, to see what I can do to change the system含羞草研究社� Poverty and household food insecurity is a national issue 含羞草研究社� and it含羞草研究社檚 a systemic issue. So everybody has a role to play,含羞草研究社� she said.
More support is needed for those experiencing poverty but still want to pursue an education, said Hamilton.
Some students come from families that don含羞草研究社檛 have enough to support them through school. But often, those students feel guilty or ashamed asking for help.
Hunger, and a variety of mental health challenges, result from food insecurity, which ultimately results from poverty, low income or minimal family support. This makes life hard for those taking their first steps into adulthood.
含羞草研究社淥n top of poverty, they含羞草研究社檙e so stressed out. They含羞草研究社檙e so busy. Students have so much on their plates含羞草研究社� Housing is expensive, tuition, books, food, and then all the other things they have to pay for alongside that,含羞草研究社� Hamilton said.
含羞草研究社淏eing food insecure, which means you含羞草研究社檙e hungry and don含羞草研究社檛 have money, is really stressful. You have a hard time focusing, you just feel generally unwell, you含羞草研究社檙e lethargic, exhausted. On top of that, students have demanding workloads.含羞草研究社�
Their study also found that people of colour, Indigenous people, and those with disabilities are even worse off.
The ever-increasing cost of living has also had an adverse effect on food insecurity. For most students, this is a hole they can含羞草研究社檛 easily climb out of.
Some resources are available to students in the Okanagan 含羞草研究社� such as The Pantry, a student union-run on-campus food bank. When in desperate need, students can also use the food banks in either Lake Country or Kelowna.
Those who can, are encouraged to donate to students in need.
The university recently launched a meal share program, which provides emergency funding support to students through meal cards. The program allows students to buy food on campus and is funded through public support. More information is available .
Short-term, this fundraiser will help students in need of immediate support.
Long-term, Hamilton said more needs to change; emergency food banks should be used for exactly that 含羞草研究社� an emergency.
Hamilton stressed the need to increase funding and support for students in poverty.
含羞草研究社淭his comes down to different policies that need to be reviewed, or updated or developed to support equity in our population.含羞草研究社�
To support students in need, .
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: phil.mclachlan@kelownacapnews.com
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